Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865), 16th president of the United States (1861-1865) and one of the great leaders in American history. A humane, far-sighted statesman in his lifetime, he became a legend and a folk hero after his death. Lincoln rose from humble backwoods origins to become one of the great presidents of the United States. In […]

TO GENERAL VAN ALLEN by Abraham Lincoln TO GENERAL VAN ALLEN. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 14, 1865 GENERAL VAN ALLEN: I intend to adopt the advice of my friends and use due precaution…. I thank you for the assurance you give me that I shall be supported by conservative men like yourself, in the efforts […]

INTERVIEW WITH SCHUYLER COLFAX ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 14, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln INTERVIEW WITH SCHUYLER COLFAX ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 14, 1865. Mr. Colfax, I want you to take a message from me to the miners whom you visit. I have very large ideas of the mineral wealth of our nation. I […]

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. WEITZEL. WASHINGTON, D.C., April 12, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. WEITZEL. WASHINGTON, D.C., April 12, 1865. MAJOR-GENERAL WEITZEL, Richmond, Va.: I have just seen Judge Campbell’s letter to you of the 7th. He assumes, as appears to me, that I have called the insurgent legislature of Virginia together, […]

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. WEITZEL by Abraham Lincoln TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. WEITZEL. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 12, 1865. MAJOR-GENERAL WEITZEL, Richmond, Va.: I have seen your despatch to Colonel Hardie about the matter of prayers. I do not remember hearing prayers spoken of while I was in Richmond; but I have no doubt you […]

PROCLAMATION OPENING THE PORT OF KEY WEST APRIL 11, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln PROCLAMATION OPENING THE PORT OF KEY WEST, APRIL 11, 1865. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A Proclamation. Whereas by my proclamation of this date the port of Key West, in the State of Florida, was inadvertently included among […]

LAST PUBLIC ADDRESS by Abraham Lincoln LAST PUBLIC ADDRESS, APRIL 11, 1865 FELLOW-CITIZENS—We meet this evening not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart. The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace, whose joyous expression cannot be restrained. In the midst […]

PROCLAMATION CLOSING CERTAIN PORTS, APRIL 11, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln PROCLAMATION CLOSING CERTAIN PORTS, APRIL 11, 1865. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A Proclamation. Whereas by my proclamations of the 19th and 27th days of April, A.D. 1861, the ports of the United States in the States of Virginia, North Carolina, […]

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. H. GORDON April 11, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. H. GORDON. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April 11, 1865. BRIG. GEN. G. H. GORDON, Norfolk, Va.: Send to me at once a full statement as to the cause or causes for which, and by authority of what tribunal George W. […]

PROCLAMATION CLAIMING EQUALITY OF RIGHTS WITH ALL MARITIME NATIONS by Abraham Lincoln PROCLAMATION CLAIMING EQUALITY OF RIGHTS WITH ALL MARITIME NATIONS, APRIL 11, 1865. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A Proclamation. Whereas for some time past vessels of war of the United States have been refused in certain foreign ports, privileges […]

RESPONSE TO A CALL APRIL 10, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln RESPONSE TO A CALL, APRIL 10, 1865 If the company had assembled by appointment, some mistake had crept in their understanding. He had appeared before a larger audience than this one to-day, and he would repeat what he then said, namely, he supposed owing to […]